Help! Stray Voltage

[njbillyv]

This one has me puzzled.
A buddy of mine is having all kinds of trouble with his tank so I go by to see what's up. He's NOT running a grounding probe or using a GFCI outlet so we check for stray voltage and....32V!
So we start unplugging stuff to see what's causing the problem. When everything is unplugged it goes to 0, obviously. But as soon as we plug anything in it jumps up to 25+V. Plug in the heater, 25, unplug it and plug in the pump, 25, etc. So whatever is plugged in we get 25+V. As we plug other stuff in it goes a few V. with each item until we get 32V. with everything.
Can someone please explain this to me?
P.S. installed a grounding probe and now it's 0, but the problem still needs to be solved.

 

[acrylic51]

Sure he doesn't have a bad outlet or socket....... I really cant comment on the GFCI use, because the only thing on my system that's on a GFCI is my heaters.....Everything else standard outlets.....

 

[2quills]

What setting is the meter on? Where are the meters probes being placed?

 

[phillyboi]

check out this link it might help you...Stray Voltage

 

[tannersmith200]

Good Lord people please use GFCIs!!!! And please use a grounding probe. Saltwater is almost as good as a conductor as copper. Make this a standard practice!
One mishap and death can result from a hobby thats otherwise extrememly safe.
Fact: Most electrical fatalities occur from 120VAC power sources.
Reason: People assume 120VAC is not too dangerous because 120 sounds like a low number for voltage. But 120 VAC packs a punch with 20A of current which kills.
Again...Please utilize a GFCI for all aquarium devices.
Thanks

 

[acrylic51]

Bad thing is some aquarium devices don't like GFCI's and will trip them.....Common sense should come into play as well around our systems......I will only use them on my heater plugs......

 

[tannersmith200]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391446/help-stray-voltage#post_3471603
Bad thing is some aquarium devices don't like GFCI's and will trip them.....Common sense should come into play as well around our systems......I will only use them on my heater plugs......
Well in that case, I wouldnt use the product. No product out there is worth my life.
And if you decide to use the product no matter what, at least use a grounding probe.

 

[njbillyv]

I've read article after article on stray voltage and they all say the same thing....unplug one thing at a time, etc. I don't understand why anything I plug in gives me 25+V.
Anyone??
And I do have my multimeter set correctly and the outlet voltage reads right also. I'm stuck here.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBillyV http:///t/391446/help-stray-voltage#post_3471606
I've read article after article on stray voltage and they all say the same thing....unplug one thing at a time, etc. I don't understand why anything I plug in gives me 25+V.
Anyone??
And I do have my multimeter set correctly and the outlet voltage reads right also. I'm stuck here.
Describe correctly, and where are you placing the probes when you test. You guys are farmiliar with the fact that energy is radiant right? You understand how a non contact voltage detector works and why there will always be voltage readings in a tank with an electrical power device inside of them?
Since when did A.C. voltage all of a sudden start packing 20 amps of current? Where does that current come from?

 

[njbillyv]

I'm testing it correctly, I've done it 100000000's of times on many tanks, the highest reading I've ever gotten is like 1V. I don't understand why anything that's plugged in gives this reading. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[2quills]

No offense here man but when you say youve done it X amount of time and youve only ever gotten a reading of 1 volt I have to question your method. Its a aimple question. Trying to help you out.

 

[njbillyv]

I know and appreciate the help. The multimeter is set on AC voltage, the reading on the outlet from hot to ground (bottom round hole) is 120ish, no problem. Black probe in gound hole (bottom round hole) red probe in water, 32V. Like I said it's 0 now because we put in a grounding probe, but I'm still stumped.

 

[phillyboi]

have you tried using another meter maybe your meter went bad...

 

[njbillyv]

I did actually, I used my expensive multi-meter fist, which seems to work fine. The I broke out the cheeap-o VOM and got about the same thing. I'm going back tonight to see if I can figure it out, but if anyone has any ideas please bring them on.

 

[2quills]

Pretty sure you are simply detecting the electromagnetic fields given off by the power cords from your electrical devices. This is common and is one reason why I was stumped when you mentioned that youve tested multiple tanks and theyve all said 1 volt. The question is,is this a problem? Lets remember that voltage (potential) is not whats going to hurt anything. Current (amps) is what gets you. By adding a ground probe you didnt eliminate anything you simply created a path to ground for current to travel if there ever is a real problem. I can give you a few names and point you to some electrical engineers who absolutely refuse to run ground probes for this very reason. If you're not using a probe in conjunction with a gfci then youve completely missed the purpose of what they are used for. I dont run one but I do use gfci devices. If I take a quick shock for a millisecond thats fine with me at least I know my livestock isnt being stressed from current flowing through the tank because of the probe. But we all make our own choices.
My tank on a typical day reads about 8 volts. 25+ is not uncommon at all. Upwards of 50 and id start to worry. Cheap electrical devices with poorly insulated conductors will probbly cause highr readings.